Wrestling: Title a bonus for Lincoln-Way Central
By Gary Larsen For Sun-Times Media December 8, 2012 10:10PM
Updated: January 10, 2013 6:45AM
With four wrestlers missing from its lineup in the 11-team tournament at Hoffman Estates, Lincoln-Way Central needed to push for bonus points if it wanted to win the title Saturday.
Senior Matt Schneider was happy to oblige, posting two pins and a major decision in winning the title at 170 pounds and helping the Knights come from behind in the final round to top Libertyville.
“No matter who I’m wrestling, I get an adrenaline rush right before I wrestle and I just knew I had to do my best to get some team points,” said Schneider, who wrestled with a black eye that was nearly shut after suffering the injury last week.
Knights coach Jason DePolo is happy to have a wrestler like Schneider around.
“He wants to go to a place like the Air Force Academy and it would be hard to understand why they wouldn’t want a kid like him,” DePolo said. “We’re just lucky to have him serve as an example to all our young guys filling in today.”
Tyler Schneider (152) and Brendan Ditchman (182) also won individual titles and Robbie Mikenis (138) took second as the Knights posted a 222-211.5 edge over Libertyville. Notre Dame placed third and New Trier finished fourth.
